L-G to DJB: Ensure free water reaches people

The DJB has also ordered that all such works be filmed henceforth to ensure transparency.

Jung also directed the water utility to come up with a ‘summer action plan’ within two weeks and ensure there is no scarcity of water during summer.

With President’s rule in place in Delhi, Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday held a meeting with Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials, directing the water utility to ensure effective implementation of the free water scheme announced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

“The Lt-Governor directed the DJB to ensure effective implementation of the free water scheme announced by the AAP government. In order to ensure the scheme reaches the intended beneficiaries and is not misused by unscrupulous elements, the
L-G asked the DJB to ensure its effective implementation in areas that have water meters by ensuring meters are not faulty and are functional,” a statement said.

Jung also directed the water utility to come up with a ‘summer action plan’ within two weeks and ensure there is no scarcity of water during summer.

The L-G also expressed his willingness to deal with the issue of the Munak Canal, which, he said, “should be taken up with the government of India on priority, so that the plants at Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla get commissioned in time and ensure adequate supply in these areas”.

Meanwhile, the DJB said it had taken several measures to improve the capital’s drainage system.

Officials have been instructed to work out a schedule for the “preventive maintenance of sewer lines”. The DJB said information regarding “deployment of the recycler and suction-cum-jetting machines will be made available to the Residents’ Welfare Associations, and also be uploaded on its website.

“The DJB will prepare and upload on its website the action plan for deployment of the suction-cum-jetting machines in vulnerable areas, with a view to pre-empt any blockages in the drainage system,” it said.

The DJB has also ordered that all such works be filmed henceforth to ensure transparency.

“In order to ensure optimum utilisation of available resources and for better monitoring of works being undertaken, the DJB will require the contracting agency to provide real-time pictures of the work being undertaken, along with bills and logsheets,” it said.

Anil Ambani meets Jung

ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani met Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday. Sources said the two did not discuss the cash position of the ADAG-backed BSES firms, which distribute power to 70 per cent of the city. Ambani is learnt to have told the L-G that the discoms would not be able to control loadshedding in peak summer months following an impending increase in gas prices from April.

Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday directed officials from various agencies to conduct a joint survey of accident-prone areas in the city to fix the shortcomings within two weeks.

“A large number of deficiencies in traffic management of the city have been noticed due to lack of coordination among agencies.

The main objective behind the constitution of a task force was to ensure better coordination and expeditious removal of such bottlenecks,” the L-G’s office said.

The Delhi Traffic Police made a presentation to the L-G — an analysis of fatalities over the last 10 years and the accident-prone areas.

During the meeting, Jung conveyed to the representatives of various agencies — including officials from the Public Works Department, Transport Department, traffic police and the New Delhi Municipal Council, among others — that there was “no dispute regarding the issues highlighted” by the traffic police, but pointed out that due importance was not being given to the issues raised by civic agencies.

He directed the agencies to take up projects in a time-bound manner and to remove all the bottlenecks within a month. Jung emphasised that lane driving on Delhi roads should be enforced.

The issue of illegal parking was also discussed and Jung is learnt to have directed the traffic police to crack down heavily on offenders. A follow-up meeting to assess the progress made by the task force has been scheduled in March.